World

North Korea Stops Offering 3G Data Service to Tourists

Shortly after announcing tourists visiting the country would be able to get 3G-ready prepaid SIM cards, North Korea has had a change of heart, and 3G is no longer available to tourists.

The newscomes from Beijing-based Koryo Tours, a company specialized in tours to North Korea.

"3G access is no longer available for tourists to the DPRK. Sim cards can still be purchased to make international calls but no internet access is available," wrote Koryo Tours in a notice on its website.

North Korea changed the long-standing policy of taking away cellphones from tourists in February 2013. Shortly therafter, the country's only 3G mobile operator Koryolink started offering prepaid SIM cards to tourists — a sign the secluded nation might be opening its doors a little.

We don't know why North Korea's government decided to shut down internet access for short-term visitors, but it's possible it didn't like the content of some tweets and photos coming from tourists visiting the country.

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